Automobile-fender.



E. E. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMOBILE FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI. 2, IQIs.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. E. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMOBILE -FENDER.

APPLICATION msn sEPT.2.1915.

E. E. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMOBILE FENDER.

APPgIcATIoN FMD SEPT. 2, 1915.

LQ., Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E' Jj 4 Witwe/wao LET@ v SU/MEOW E. E. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMOBILE FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. I9I5.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, (juve u lo:

EMBL E. JOHNSTON, OF POTLATCH, JDAHO.

AUTOMCBILE-FENDER.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

appucaaon sled september a, i915. serial no. Aiace@ The object of the invention is to provide a device of the class specified which although being Simple, compact, and inexpensive, will be highly efficient. and durable and will be operated automatically upon striking of a pedestrian bv a bumper disposed in advance of the machine. v

To this end, theinvention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by 'the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the mvention applied to use showingthe normal positions of parts; Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the locations ci such parts after a pedestrian or other object has been struck; Fig. 3 is a top plan view; Fig. 4 is a horizon-y tal section taken approximately on the line 4-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 isa vertical transverse section as seen on the the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a similar view as seen on the planeof the line6--6 of Fig. l; Fig. 7' is a third transverse section as viewedv on the plane of the line`7-7 ot Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section partly in elevation, through the plunger and the lparts directly associated therewith. Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section through one side of the frame.

In these drawings which constitute a .part of the application and in which like reference characters. designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the numerals 1 indicatea pair of uprighthanger bars which are bolted or otherwise secured to the side bars 2 of an automobile, the lower ends-of plane designated by v said bars being provided with vertically elongated yokes 3 receiving slidably therein the front automobile axle 4C. The intermediate portions of the hanger bars, carry transversely alined bearings 5 in which the ends of a transverse horizontal hinge bar 6 are loosely mounted., said bar constituting therear end of an approximate rectangular horizontal frame 7'which, in addition to said bar includes a pair of parallel-tubular side bars 8 and a front transverse bar 9 which is preferably tubular for the sake of lightness.

Having sleeves 10 and 10 receiving respectively the bars 6 and 9, is a pair of upright bracket plates 11 and 11 which support a pair of parallel 4longitudinally disposed horizontal track plates 12 whose upper edges are provided with longitudinal laterallyproiecting flanges 13. interposed between the,track plates 12 and likewiseextending trom one bracket plate to the other, is a guide rail 14: preferably of tubular formation, the aforesaid bracket plates being shown as provided with bosses 15 projecting into the opposite ends of said rail to reliably hold'the same against dislocation.

Disposed above and preferably resting on the track plates 12., is a plunger plate 16 having downwardly extending paralleljdanges 17 on its longitudinal edges,l said flanges being provided with longitudinal series of spaced openings 19 .whereby they constitute rack bars. tlbviously. rack bars of common construction could well be used in place of the type shown, the latter ispreterable on account ofv its 'ease of manufacture.

In order to prevent dislocation ofthe plunger plate 16, the inner sides of the flanges 17 thereof are equipped with inwardly extending stops 2O preferably inthe form of angular H'anges. Bvthis construction. the plate'and its I ack bars are allowed lwith a guide 21 which depends between the two tracks and is provided with a central opening receiving therein the guide rail 14,

guide'and the front bracket 11', is a coil spring 22'which is `compressed when the Aplunger member is shifted to its 'normal position at the front end of the tracks 12. rllhe Patented Jan. itil, 1191".

`and surrounding said rail between said' Q I memes manner of shifting the aforesaid plunger member to compress the spring will be herev inafter described.

F or retaining the plunger member retracted against the tension of the spring 22, an appropriate catch mechanism is employed, said mechanism being shown in the present embodiment of the invention as 1ncluding a stop shoulder 23 rising from the plunger plate 1G and normally abutting a hook-shaped catch member 24 which 1s p ivotally supported by a rock shaft 25 to which it is secured, the ends of the rock shaft being supported for slight rotary movement in bearings 26 rising from the frame 7. This frame is normallyY raised as shown 1n Fig. 1, but when it is lowered, the catch 24 is to be released, thus allowing the plunger member to be projected to in turn project a part of the fender in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. It therefore becomes en pedient to provide means for tripping .said catch when the frame approaches the l1m1t of its downward movement. To this end, practically any type of normally slack operating members may be provided for rocking the shaft 25 when drawn taut by lowering of the frame, but as typical of the preferred form of such members, the drawing illustrates a pair of crank arms 27 which are secured one to each end of the shaft 25, and a pair of links 28 which are pivoted at their lower ends to crank arms 27 and at their upper ends to the projecting front portions of the side bars Normally, the crank arms and links stand as disclosed in lFig. 1, but when the frame is lowered, they aline as depicted in Fig. 2 and in so doing, rock the shaft 25 to release the catch 29, thus allowing the. plunger to be projected.

Assisting in alining the links 28 and crank arms 27, and thereby assisting in suddenly lowering the frame when the supporting means therefor is released, is a pair of springs 29. Although the provision of the springs is preferable, the device would obviously operate to advantage with the same eliminated.

Connected in any preferred manner to the front ends of the bars 2 for rearward yielding movement, is a transverse bumper` 30 preferably arched in transverse sectlon, while normally closing the lowerside of said bumper is an appropriately shaped bar 31 which is carried by the front ends of a pair of longitudinally shiftable normally retracted arms 32 which are slidable in the tubular side bars 8 of the frame 7. the aforesaid bar 31 being normally held in raised position, and therefore normally supporting the guide frame, by a pair of bolts 33. The rear ends of these bolts are pivotally supported by links 34, while the front ends thereof are normally projected through eyes 35 which depend from the bumper 30 through openings in the bar 31, the bolts in question being positioned beneath said bar as' clearly disclosed in Fig. 1. Thus it will be evident that when the bolts in question are withdrawn, the bar 31 and the entire frame will be moved downwardly, thus releasing the catch 24 and allowing the plunger to project the bar 31 forwardly, through the instrumentality of motion transmitting means yet to be described.

The downward and forward movement of the bar 3l lowers an appropriate net 36 whose upper edge is secured within the bumper 30 while its lower edge is connected to said bar, the net being normally housed within the bumper as depicted in F ig. 1.

As a simple means of withdrawing the bolts 33 when a pedestrian is struck by the bumper 30, a rock shaftl 37 is mounted upon the front ends of the side` bars 2, a pair of rigid crank arms 38 depend from said shaft and are connected at their free ends by links with the bolts 33, and the intermediate portions of said crank arms are pivoted to the rear ends of links 40 which extend rearwardly from the bumper 30. By this construction, when the bumper 30 is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, the links 40 will rock the crankarms 38 rearwardly, and obviously the rear ends of such arms will move a greater distance than the intermediate portions thereof, thereby pulling rearwardly on the links 39 and withdrawing the bolts 33, to allow the bar 31 and the frame to drop. The shaft 37 is equipped with an additional crank arm 41 from which a rod or the like42 leads rearwardly to a point adjacent the drivers seat, whereby said shaft may be operated manually if desired.

The motion transmitting means between the plunger member and the bar 31 includes a pair of crank pins 43 spaced one from each flange 17, said pins being equipped with operatinggears 44 whose teeth are received by the openings 19 in the aforesaid Hanges, the gears in question being mounted on a transverse preferably hollow bar 45 which connects the side bars of the frame 7. Extending from the crank pins to a pair of collars 46 which are slidab-le on thel arms 32, is a pair of connecting rods 47, coil. springs 43 being preferably disposed between the front ends of the collars and stops 49 on the aforesaid arms. By so doing, when movement of theplunger suddenly rotates the gears 44 yand shifts the rods 47 forwardly to project the arms 32 and bar 31, the shock will be absorbed by the springs 48. If desired, additional shock absorbing springs 50 (see Fig. 9) may be interposed between heads 51 on the inner ends of the arms 32 and stops 52 at the front ends of the bars 8.

After the device has once been operated,

memes before returning of the numerous parts to normal position, it is necessary to provide some mechanical means for again compressing. the spring 22. For this4 purpose, a jack screw 53 is rotatably mounted in the lower ends of the bracket plates 1l and 11 and is -threaded through a nut 54 having an upstanding projection 55 formed with a central opening receiving therein the rail 14. Normally, the projection 55 is positioned immediately in advance of the rear bracket plate l1, whereby to offer no obstruction to the rearward movement of the plunger when the .latter is released, but when such plunger is to be moved forwardly to compress the spring 22, an appropriate crank or the like suchA as that indicated at 56 in Fig. l may be applied, thus allowing the nut and its projection to be moved forwardly when the screw 53 is'rotated. By so doing, the plunger may be retracted until the catch 24 is applied, after which the nut is again shifted to the rear end of the screw. j

From' the foregoing description, taken in connection with -the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that although comparatively simple construction has been devised for accomplishing the desired results, the invention will be efficient and durable, and will possess a number of advantageous characteristics.

ln the drawings, certain specific details of construction have been shown for accomplishing probably the best results, and in the foregoing such details have been described, but it is obvious that l need not be limited thereto otherwise than tothe extent to which the appended claims restrict me.

l claim:

1. ln a .vehicle fender, the combination of a normally raised fender member to be'lowered and projected forwardly, means for normally supporting the fender member, additional means for releasing the aforesaid means, and normally latent projecting mechanism for the fender member released by the lowering of said member.

2. In a vehicle fender, the combination of a normally raised fender member to be lowered and projected forwardly, means for normally supporting the fender member, additional means for releasing the aforesaid means, projecting mechanism for the fender member, catch means for normally preventing actuation of said mechanism, and catch tripping means `for releasing said catch means upon lowering of the fender member.

3. ln a vehicle fender, the combination of a normally raised fender member to be lowered and projected forwardly, means for normally supporting the fender member, additional means for releasing the aforesaid means, projecting mechanism for the fender member, a catch for normally preventing actuation of said mechanism, and a flexible catch releasing member adapted to be ditional means for releasing 'the aforesaid means, projecting means for the fender member including a spring pressed plunger having thereon a stop shoulder, a pivoted catch movable downwardly with the fender member and normally abutting the shoulder to prevent actuation of the projecting means, .a crank arm rigid with the catch, and a link pivoted at one end to the crank arm and adaptedto have its other end pivoted to a fixed member to release the catch when the fender member is lowered.

`5. ln a vehicle fender, the combination of a normally raised vfender member to be lowered and projected forwardly, means for normally supporting the fender member, additional means for releasing the aforesaid means, projecting means for the fender member including a spring pressed plunger having thereon a stop shoulder, a' pivoted catch movable downwardly with the fender member and normally abutting said shoulder to prevent actuation of the projectv ing means, acrank arm rigid with the catch,

a link pivoted at one end to said crank arm and adapted to have its other end pivoted to a fixed member, and spring means in conjunction with the crank arm and the vlink tending to aline the two for the purpose set forth.

6.' ln a vehicle fender, the combination of a horizontal bumper movable rearwardly, a bar beneath the bumper adapted to be ios lowered, a net connected at its upper and lower edges to the bumper and to the bar, means for normally supporting the bar including a bolt to be withdrawn to lower said bar, a crank arm in rear of the bumper and mounted independently thereof, alink connecting the free end of the crank arm and the aforesaid bolt, and an additional link connecting the intermediate portion of they transmitting means between the pin and theI fender member.

8. in a vehicle fender, the combination of a frame to be attached to a vehicle, a pair of forwardly shiftable arms carried by the frame and in turn carrying a fender mein.-

ber, a normally retracted spring projected plunger carried by the frame and havingl a pair of parallel rack bars, a pair of crank pins having operating gears meshed with the rack bars and mounted on the frame,

spring projected plunger carried by the frame and including a pair of parallel rack bars, a pair of crank pins having operating gears meshed with the rack bars and mounted on the frame, rods pivoted to the crank pins, and yieldable connections between said rods and the aforesaid arms.

l0. In a vehicle fender, the combination of a horizontal frame including a front bar and a rear bar, a guide member extending from one bar to'the other, a spring projected plunger carried slidably by said member, releasable means for holding the plunger retracted, and a fender member to be projected by the plunger when such means is released.

11. In a vehicle fender, the combination of a horizontal frame including a frontand a rear bar, a pair of brackets rising one from each bar, a pair of parallel tracks eX- tending from one bracket to the other, a guide rail between the tracks likewise extending rom .one bracket to the other, a plunger slidable on the tracks and having a guide receive therein a guide rail, a coil spring surrounding said rail between the guide and one bracket, releasable means to normally hold the plunger retracted against the tension of the spring, and a fender member to be projected when such means is released.

l2. ln a vehicle fender, the combination of a pair of parallel horizontal track plates having laterally extending flanges on their upper edges, a horizontal plate above the track plates having a pair of depending flanges contiguous to the outer edges oit the aforesaid flanges and each provided with a longitudinal series of openings, stops secured to the depending flanges and contacting with the other flanges, a pair of crank memes vehicle and having yokes on their lower ends for the reception of the front vehicle axle therein, bearings carried by said bars, a transverse horizontal bar mounted in said bearings, and a fender carrying frame car ried by said horizontal bar.

la. The combination with an automatic fender mechanism having an operating spring; of a screw jack formed as a part of the aforesaid mechanism and designed for normally placing the aforesaid spring under tension.

15. ln a Vehicle fender, the combination of a pair of spaced brackets, a pair of parallel tracks extending from one bracket to the other, a plunger mounted slidably on the tracks, a fender member to be projected by the projection of the plunger, a spring for projecting said plunger, a screw extending from one bracket to the other and rotatablyA supported thereby, a nut through which the screw is threaded, and a projection on the nut adapted to bear against the plunger, whereby the plunger may be retractedagainst the tension of its spring by rotation of its screw. p

16. ln a vehicle fender, the combination of an ,elongated guide member, a plunger carried slidably by said member, a fender member to be projected by projection of the plunger, a spring for projecting said plunger, a screw parallel to the guide member, a nut through which the screw is threaded, and a projection on the nut for contact with the plunger, whereby the latter may be retracted against the tension of its spring by rotation or" its screw.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL E. -JUHNSTUN Witnesses:

Mann L. SEYMOUR, Cani., S. Psrnizson. 

